Edward a



(No Model.)

B. A. THIERY.

PURSE.

No. 561,924. Patented June 9, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries,

EDIVARD A. TIIlER-Y, Oh NEWVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CARTER, HASTINGS & IIOIVE, OF SAME PLACE.

PURSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,924, dated June 9, 1896.

Application filed February l0 1896. Serial No. 578,762. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

lle it known that I, EDWARD A. THIERY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New ark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Purses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in purses; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and definitely pointed out in the claim.

The aim and purpose of this invention is the provision of an improved closing-frame for a purse or similar device wherein the ball form of fastener maybe employed and to so construct the frame that the purse maybe easily opened.

The invention consists, primarily, in shaping and adapting the toggle form of frame so that ball-fasteners may be employed.

The objects of the invention are attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of ref erence designate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a purse embodyin g the improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the frame. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the frame on the line 01a; of Fig. l; and Fig. l is a plan view of the frame shown in a closed condition, the fastening-balls being omitted.

In the drawings, A designates the body of the purse. I, however, desire it understood that the invention, which is conveniently shown as applied to a purse, is applicable to hand-satchcls, bags, and to other analogous devices.

B designates the frame, which is comprised of four rigid bars C C O G of equal length and of the same style or shape. The bars 0 and C and the bars G and C respectively, have their outer ends arranged one on the other and are pivotally secured together, so as to form an even joint. To the under face of the inner ends of the bars 0 C are pivoted the inner ends of the bars 0 0 so that the bars C C may conveniently be termed the diagonally opposite upper bars and the bars 0 C the diagonally opposite under bars. As the bars are all of the same length their inner ends overlap or project beyond the ends of the diagonally opposite bars, as shown in Fig. a. By this means and owing to the rigidity of the bars the frame can be spread or opened in one direction only, and the bars are prevented from turning or swinging under each other. The inner ends of the upper and lower bars respectively striking or abutting at their sides, the central part cannot be turned or broken so as to fold the bars at the center; but when the frame is closed the same is substantially rigid throughout, all transverse movement being prevented except the spreading or opening movement.

To prevent the frame from spreading or opening, I employ two ball-fasteners D D, each arranged on stems projecting from the upper faces of the upperbars C C. The contiguous faces of the balls are arranged to overlap, so that as the frame is closed the balls come in contact and are forcibly sprung past each other and thereby constitute a secure fastening, as in the usual form of ballfasteners.

It may here be stated that were the central joint of the frame so arranged that the same could be folded-that is, both sections turned in the same direction-the ball-fasteners would be impracticable and useless in connection with this structure.

It has been my aim and endeavor to so fashion the frame that the ball-fasteners may be used, which are by far the strongest and most durable method of fastening employed for purses and the like, owing to the absence of pivots or springs.

To secure the body to the frame, any dosirable means may be employed, preferably perforated edge flanges E E on the bars, through which the threads or links may pass.

F designates a handle secured at opposite ends to the frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a purse or similar article, the combination with the body, of the closing-frame connected therewith, comprising a series of equallength rigid bars having their adjacent ends pivoted together and their inner ends overlapping and abutting against the sides of the ends of the diagonally opposite members, and ba11-fasteners seen red to the inner ends of the upper or outer me nlbers 0f the frame, siibstantially as described. :0

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWVARD A. TIIIERY.

\Vitnesses:

\VINFIELD LYLE, WILLIAM E. SIMONsON. 

